State of emergency: Analysts anticipate high winds, flooding and 25-foot waves

Monday

Oct 29, 2012 at 3:15 AMOct 29, 2012 at 12:29 PM

By Samantha Allen sallen@fosters.com

DOVER — Late this morning Governor John Lynch declared New Hampshire in a state of emergency. Meteorologists say Hurricane Sandy has the potential to be a monster, and not just because it has the power to throw off local goblins' and ghouls' plans for Halloween. The “Frankenstorm,” said to threaten 60 million Americans along the East Coast, is predicted to weave together some of the worst symptoms of inclement weather known. Lynch urges granite-staters to stay off the roads, stock up on gas, food and water.

Starting in the afternoon today, the Seacoast can expect persistent high winds and drenching rains while others around and south of New England may suffer extreme tides, flooding and even snowfall.

Senior Meteorologist Mike Kistner with the National Weather Service said Sunday evening the details of the storm for the area were fairly “ironed out,” with predicted 1 to 3 inches of rainfall starting between 5 and 9 p.m. Monday night. Some areas may receive 4 inches of localized rain, he said. Sustained winds are expected to be at 35 and 40 miles per hour (mph), with gusts as strong as 60 and 70 mph.

Coastal flooding is also expected, especially for the Portsmouth area, with two- to four-foot surges and some waves offshore as high as 25 feet.

Kistner noted the cloudy skies and light rainfall experienced Sunday were part of the Sandy system.

“It is part of it. It is a giant, giant system and depending on what part you measure across,” he said, “it stretches over 1,500 miles … There will probably be scattered to widespread power outages in this area, and weak structures like sheds could have some damage.”

Sandy is an ordinary late summer hurricane from the tropics but combined with a high pressure ridge of air centered around Greenland blocking the hurricane's normal out-to-sea path forcing it west toward land makes it a strange concoction. A wintry cold front is moving in from the west, along with a blast of Arctic air from the north, and there will be a full moon with its usual effect, pulling in high tides.

With all factors combined, officials say this stitched-together weather monster is expected to unleash its power over 800 miles, with predictions in some areas of 12 inches of rain, 2 feet of snow and sustained 40- to 50 mph winds.

“The total is greater than the sum of the individual parts,” said Louis Uccellini, the environmental prediction chief of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration meteorologists. “That is exactly what's going on here.”

The NOAA has called this storm unprecedented. They report it is likely to be stronger and bigger than the 1991 Perfect Storm, will hit further south, and affect far more people.

Governor John Lynch also ordered the National Guard to put 100 soldiers on state active duty by 10 a.m. Monday, to be prepared to assist New Hampshire and local personnel with emergency response.

His administration cautioned the storm is unpredictable and its path could change with little warning.

Dover Police Lt. David Martinelli told Foster's the city's emergency management team, the city manager and police and fire departments, had not taken action yet against the storm but are prepared in case additional staff are needed.

“Right now, we're watching and prepared for what we need to do,” he said.

Dover City Manager J. Michael Joyal, Jr., said “crews and equipment” were prepared and on standby in an email sent late Sunday night.

“... We will continue to follow this storm closely. With the exception of closing schools at least for tomorrow and postponing Halloween events until this coming Saturday evening,” he wrote, “we will be attempting to maintain regular administrative office hours for city facilities ... Please continue to monitor the local news media for updates regarding the storm. “